Norway keen to help Nepal build transmission lines

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Norway is interested to help Nepal build electricity transmission lines and ultimately remove one of the major bottlenecks in evacuation and distribution of hydropower.

“We are ready to provide assistance to the Nepal government if it comes up with strategic plans to develop transmission lines in the country,” Alf Arne Ramslien, Norwegian ambassador for Nepal, said at an interaction on ´´Norwegian assistance to Nepal in hydropower development: Challenges and Opportunities´ organized by Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON) on Tuesday.

Highlighting the importance of hydropower in the country´s development, Ramslien said erection of transmission lines is a major task to tap the country´s hydropower potentials. “There are challenges as well as opportunities in hydropower development in Nepal,” Ramslien said speaking in the interaction on ´Norwegian assistance to Nepal in hydropower development: challenges and opportunities´ organized by Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON).

Stressing the need for political stability and policy consistency for economic development, Ramslien said the government should come up with strong plans if it wants Norwegian support to help build transmission lines. “The power trade agreement between Nepal and India is important to build North-South and cross border transmission lines,” Ramslien added.

He also said the Norwegian government was ready to support Nepal in conducting feasibility study of different large scale projects.

“Our efforts will be on helping Nepal. We want to invest here as the country has comparative advantage in hydropower sector,” Ramslien said, adding that the Norwegian Embassy in Nepal is currently working on developing new plans to support Nepal in energy sector.

According to information posted on website of Norwegian Embassy in Nepal, the Norwegian mission is working on accelerated hydropower development, rural renewable energy development and technical energy development.

“The embassy is planning to enter into a co-financing agreement with the Asian Development Bank for development of transmission projects in Nepal,” the Norwegian mission in Nepal has posted on its website.